Chapter 165

MALACHI Alexandros gave Ophelia some of his blood back at the ruins, but all our energy is so depleted, it is taking longer than usual for us to recover. She still bleeds from the deep wound in her side, although it is healing. I step onto the path that leads to the Dragon Society houses with her cradled in my arms, having insisted I carry her at least half the way. We lost some vampires, but the ones who are left form a line on two sides, creating a path to our house, their heads bowed in deference as we pass. Not to me or Xavier or Axl, or even the professor, but in deference to her. My fucking warrior elementai who saved us all. Her eyes are closed, her head resting on my chest, and I’m sure she’s drifting in and out of sleep, but her heart beats steadily. She’s alive. She has likely lost her powers, but we didn’t lose her, and for that I am eternally grateful. When we realized what she was intending to do, I was filled with so much terror—awe and pride too—but mostly terror. And wh